Have the adventure of a lifetime at Stepping Stone School!

Stepping Stone School is authentically Austin and has provided excellence in early childhood care and education to 100,000 children over 40 years. Stepping Stone School is proud to incorporate entrepreneurship and philanthropy into our summer camp program. Over the course of the summer, the children will create and run a series of four businesses from the ground up. From the purchasing of supplies to the division of duties and pricing the products, the students will control all aspects of their enterprises. They will decide what types of items to sell and how much to sell them for, as well as creating advertising for their products. Finally, they will sell their products at the front of the school every few weeks. All the proceeds from our businesses go to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin. To date, our young philanthropists have donated over $55,000 to this worthwhile cause. This year’s summer camp will feature biweekly themes exploring Ancient Civilizations.

S.T.E.A.M. principles are integrated into our curriculum through Math and Literacy programming. The children will participate in activities, experiments and investigations of these principles each week. They will develop problem-solving skills through critical-thinking projects specific to each featured subject, playing chess and much more! From making instruments and painting self-portraits, to creating sound and visual effects, the children will be hands-on participants in their learning. Children will also experience art as a gateway to learning in each bi-weekly subject and S.T.E.A.M. concepts as a whole. Our program will excite and energize children about these subjects by showing them that discovery can not only be fun, but can shape the world. This will be accomplished through classroom activities, experiments, and our exclusive Professional Speaker Series.™ Experts will deliver insightful presentations to the students regarding the bi-weekly themes and put the concepts into real world context, demonstrating the importance of understanding their world and opening the doors to future professions.

How is our S.T.E.A.M. Curriculum Implemented?

Science: Documenting and predicting; observing the environment and phenomena; building a water filter; charting magnet races; exploring the solar system.

Technology: Multimedia projects/filming interviews; using the HATCH interactive SMART board; recording a story on a computer; building solar ovens, turbines and anemometers.

Engineering: Planning and building a tower; designing a picture using precut shapes; building paper boats and planes, creating a marble maze.

The Arts: Designing with mixed media; drawing blueprints for a castle; painting modern art with shapes and textures; creating a new alphabet.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School will be hosting summer fun for children and young adults who want to keep their bodies and brains active throughout the summer. Half-day and full-day camps are available for all students aged 4-18 in the greater Central Austin area and beyond. Camps are offered at two different locations: the St. Andrew’s elementary and middle school campus located at 1112 West 31st Street, and the high school campus located at 5901 Southwest Parkway.

Each year our summer program offers a robust selection of courses.

A few of them include:

Boys & Girls Lacrosse Camp: This camp is open to both beginners and experienced players, allowing players of all ages and skill levels to develop and learn in a competitive and fun environment. Drills and game-like situations will be among the many facets of this camp.

Summer Musical Theatre Camp: During this popular camp, elementary and high school students will each spend a week developing and improving their vocal, acting and dancing abilities in a fun environment. Each week of camp culminates in a full musical production performed in front of family and friends at the state-of- the-art Dell Fine Arts Center at the St. Andrew’s high school campus.

Pre-Kindergarten Camps & Activities: Looking for camp and activities for your pre-kindergarten child? We’ve got you covered! Each week we have specialized classes to keep your young ones entertained and amazed.

Sherwood Forest Summer Camp

Youth Camp

How many of us wonder if we could have been really great at some type of craft or skill, given an earlier start? Sherwood Forest Summer Camp attendees have the opportunity to try their hands at many crafts and skills that are no longer widely taught. Maybe your child is a natural with a bow? Or perhaps they are made for the stage, but never had a chance to be in a play before. It is amazing what a child can learn without the distractions of the modern.

Campers may choose to sleep in Sherwood Castle (yes, it’s a real castle) or in one of the Merry Folks’ Pavilions (with nightly bedtime stories). Sherwood Castle is an indoor, climate controlled environment with bunk beds. A temporary wall separates the 40 lords from the 30 ladies in residence. All Dragons (age 7-9) will be assigned to quarters in the Castle (with strict rules against fire breathing). The Pavilions are large, military-grade tents which stand over a raised wooden platform. They are insulated and climate controlled. Our more adventurous campers will enjoy this option because, although it is a bit more luxurious than traditional camping, campers still get to be closer to nature and enjoy the night air and the sound of crickets and denizens of the forest.

We offer a healthy, kid friendly menu with options to satisfy even the pickiest eaters. Our catering is performed by BrouHaHa, who has a solid history serving patrons at Sherwood Forest Faire since its inception.

All of our hands-on activities take place in our 23-acre medieval village. Campers will be transported back in time to a world of knights, ladies, and a simpler way of life. Campers will learn skills essential to daily living in the medieval era. No modern entertainment devices will be available. Our new curriculum provides greater choice and variety for our campers. Now instead of being assigned to a set of courses each camper above age 9 will be able to choose all of their individual classes. Another change will be the number of classes. Previously campers were unable to complete more complex projects in classes. Campers will now have 5 hours of class time and will be able to create as much as they desire. In addition we add new classes every year to give even greater choice selections!

Family Camp

New this year! Sherwood Forest Family Summer Camp is a chance for your family to spend some quality time together, in the midst of the beautiful Nottingham Village. You’ll be exposed to numerous skills and trades of the Medieval era, which means you will be making things with your hands – and that doesn’t mean drawing a picture on your screen with your finger!

Disclaimer: Sherwood Forest is fraught with confrontations between Robin and his Merry Folk, the Sheriff and his deputies, The Black Hand and the Fae Folk. Don’t be surprised if families at some point are asked to defend the castle against an invasion… or perhaps they will be asked to attack, if an enemy force has taken sanctuary within. Anything could happen!

Grown-Up Camp

Sherwood Forest Grown-Up Summer Camp offers adults age 21+ the opportunity to learn skills and crafts of the renaissance era. Each camper will receive three hours of instruction in five different courses during their camp adventure. The event spans three days, and in addition to the course instruction campers will enjoy three high-quality meals, some time for relaxation or cooling off in the pool each day, and of course revelry at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem at night!

Summer sessions for the aspiring rocker in your family!

The School of Rock is the nation’s premier performance-based rock school. We teach guitar, bass, drums, keys and vocals via our unique combination of private instruction and group rehearsals, which gets students playing on stage as quickly as possible. Our instructors are all professional Austin musicians, each with years of experience in the music business.

In addition to our year-round performance programs, the School of Rock offers one week full day and half day summer camp sessions.

Our comprehensive camp experience is designed to hone music performance and ensemble skills in a creative and fun environment. We use Rock ‘n Roll to teach guitar, bass, drums, vocals and keys, culminating in an awesome live show on the final day!

Our camps cater to rockers aged 6 – 18 of all skill levels – from beginners who are brand new to their instrument through to more advanced rockers with some experience under their studded belts.

Students work in a hands-on atmosphere that includes:

Learning the nuts and bolts of live performance

Studio/band rehearsal time

Individual and group instruction from our highly skilled staff

Music theory and Rock & Roll music appreciation

Interacting with other young musicians

A LIVE rock show performance

Last year’s camps sold out, so take advantage of this awesome deal for Statesman readers only! If you enroll before April 1, you will receive 20% off tuition for any of our summer camps. Just use the coupon code SORSTATESMAN2019 at checkout.

Here’s what we have in store for Summer 2019:

Rookies camp – introduces the music fundamentals in a fun way to beginners aged 6-8.

Rock 101 camps – the perfect opportunity for budding young rockers aged 8 to 12 to learn the skills necessary to rock out in a band, with a righteous live rock show at the end of the week.

Songwriting camp – learn about the craft of writing your own original music and end the week with a recording of your own creation.

Performance camps: “Advanced Modern Metal”, “Led Zeppelin”, “Green Day”, “Classic Rock Rewind”, “Best of the 90’s” – campers aged 9 – 18 with at least 12 months of previous musical experience rehearse as a band during the week in preparation for an awesome live rock show on the final day of camp!

For more details and to reserve your spot, visit the “Our Camps + Workshops” page at austin.schoolofrock.comor call us at (512) 670-2360.

Founded in 1998, the School of Rock is the inspiration for the blockbuster Jack Black film “School of Rock” (2003).

School of Rock Austin was the 8th school founded in the School of Rock family back in 2005. Since then, we’ve produced more than 100 shows, and just recently celebrated our 13th anniversary in Austin. In the process, we have empowered thousands of young musicians by teaching kids how to rock on stage and in life!

Spend a legendary summer at the Paramount Theatre – voted best camp in Austin!

Paramount Summer Camps offer something special – perhaps that’s why they were named the winner of the 2018 Austin Chronicle Reader’s Poll for Best Summer Camp. Maybe it’s the uniquely themed camps or their dynamic faculty. One thing is certain, the camps offer a camp experience you won’t find anywhere else in Austin. But don’t just take our word for it…

“This was the most organized, well-put-together, creative, structured, and fun camp any of my kids have ever attended. The communication was above and beyond amazing and my daughter can’t wait to come back next year!” – Parent of Paramount Camper

Paramount Summer Camps boast 12 exciting weeks of summer camps for students entering 1st grade all the way through high school. The sessions are in convenient sites around Austin.All final performances will be at the historic Paramount Theatre.

Camp Paramount is a fun and fast-paced 2-week musical theatre camp where campers perform Broadway style musical numbers and iconic pop hits on the historic Paramount Stage! There are 6 sessions offered at locations around Austin with all final shows being performed on the Paramount stage.All sessions are different and unique -join us for multiple sessions! Locations include: Pease Elementary, Baldwin Elementary, Trinity Episcopal School, Pillow Elementary, & Magellan International School.

Camp Story Wranglers is inspired by our award winning, hugely popular in-school Paramount Story Wranglers program. Campers will explore story-writing, songwriting, costume and prop design, as well as acting, to create a new, thrilling, hilarious, weird, poignant, SNL-style, you-name-it production. There is one session offered at centrally located Maplewood Elementary School.

At Paramount Summer Camps your child will have the chance to perform on the historic stages of the Paramount Theatre. They will hone their craft as a singer, dancer, actor and triple threat performer. They will also channel their creativity and see their own original stories come to life. The camps offer experiences you won’t find anywhere else and an experience that will create memories and confidence to last a lifetime!

Registration and information can be found atwww.austintheatre.org/camps, by email at summercamps@austintheatre.org or by phone at 512-692-0526.

Hands-on Building Camp Expands to 5 Austin Locations!

At Neuron Garage™, (formerly Summer Spark), Austin’s award-winning STEM Day Camp, children engage each week with a different hands-on building challenge.

With heaps of recycled materials, children create and build in search of solutions to open-ended challenges. Along the way, they learn strategies and tools to stay engaged, giving them more practice thinking creatively and collaborating with peers. They develop resilience as they process minor setbacks and continue to strive for solutions.

Neuron Garage™ was founded by Kaylie Reed, a Montessori teacher, and Sam Reed, a serial entrepreneur. The husband and wife team has created a safe, supportive environment for hands-on learning, enhanced with best-practices Kaylie gleaned from studying neuroscience and education at Dartmouth and over a decade of experience in the classroom. As passionate life-long learners, it was a story about Sam’s determination to learn something new that launched Neuron Garage™.

“One summer growing up, my husband dreamed of building a boat,” said Kaylie Reed. “Day after day, he and a friend sweated and tinkered in the garage. They envisioned the boat. They biked to the store for supplies. Without any guidance, they engaged in a think-try-refine process through multiple successes and failures. They were fearlessly curious, boundlessly creative, and joyfully resilient. And eventually, that boat floated. My husband hasn’t backed down from a challenge since.”

Kaylie and Sam have recaptured the magic of the summer of ’92 as a day camp for kids aged 5 to 12.

2019 Challenges:

June 3rd – June 7th

Stop the Plop: Design, build, and test containers to avoid the plop, or rather splatter, of a raw egg hitting a hard surface.

June 10th – June 14th

Marble Roller Coasters: Design, build, and refine marble runs. How long can you make them? Can the marble do a loop? Two?

June 17th – June 21st

Medieval Construction: Can you build a castle with a working drawbridge? Can you design a catapult the fires accurately enough to defend against intruders? Campers use two simple machines — pulleys and levers — along with lots of imagination, to build defense systems for their castles.

June 24th – June 28th

Car-dboard Mechanics: Can you build a car out of recycled materials? How about a track to race it on?

July 1st – July 3rd & July 5

Trash-ion: Can you make clothing from trash? Whether you want something unique to wear for a 4th of July parade, or just want to see how creative you can be, this short week is sure to please all designers and builders.

July 8th – July 12th

Invention Convention: Can you design and build a machine that will pop a balloon? Set off an alarm? Knock over a cup? How many steps can you build into your design?

July 15th – 19th

Mission Possible: Can you build a case to protect a super-delicate secret package from bumps and drops? Can you build an airplane to carry that package safely and land smoothly? What about a boat to cross a raging sea?

July 22nd – July 26th

Structural Integrity: How high can your tower go? If you could only use two materials to build it, what would they be? How about for a bridge? How much weight could it hold?

July 29th – August 2nd

Cardboard Arcade: Turn recycled materials into a functioning arcade and celebrate by playing each others’ games.

August 5th – August 9th

Space Survival: Race against the clock to create self-propelled spaceships and shelters for outer space survival.

Discover the great outdoors at McKinney Roughs Nature Park

Campers ages 5 to 15 can discover the great outdoors at scenic McKinney Roughs Nature Park. Thirteen miles east of Austin, nestled along the Colorado River and the Lost Pines, this park has 1,100 acres of pine forests, box canyons and post oak meadows to explore.

McKinney Roughs Nature Park summer camps are based on a child’s age at the time camp starts. Each week’s camp activities revolve around a different outdoor theme and are led by experienced camp counselors. Activities include river rafting and zip lining, as well as natural science education uncovering the native plant and animal species in the area.

“We’ve provided outdoor experiences for campers at McKinney Roughs Nature Park for over 20 years,” said LCRA Parks Program Coordinator Erin Holley. “Our day camp is a great option for parents who want their children to have fun and educational outdoor experiences but still have them close to home.”

Outdoor Camp: $225 per week

Tonkawa campers (Ages 5-6) can swim at Bastrop State Park, climb the rock wall and participate in a camp-wide field day. In addition, there will be guided hikes, guest presentations, field studies, games and activities tied to various outdoor themes.

Comanche (Ages 7-8) and Caddo (Ages 9-12) campers will experience select high elements on the challenge course and raft the Colorado River or Lake Bastrop. In addition, there will be guided hikes, guest presentations, field studies, games and activities tied to various outdoor themes.

Teen Adventure Camp: $225 per week

Teen campers (Ages 13-15) will experience the thrill of high elements on the challenge course, including riding an exciting zip line, taking a kayaking trip down the Colorado River and working within a group to plan and execute various outdoor adventures.

Camp Information

McKinney Roughs Nature Park provides eight week-long sessions of day camp — from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday — beginning June 17. Each one-week session is $225; Week 2 for Caddo campers and teens is $240. A daily shuttle service from two convenient Austin locations (3700 Lake Austin Blvd. and 3505 Montopolis Drive) is available for an additional fee. Before and after care is available onsite during sessions three (July 8-12) and six (July 29-Aug. 2). The cost is $30 for either before or after care, or $60 for both. Before care is from 7:30-9 a.m., and after care is from 4-5:30 p.m.

For more information and to register, visit lcra.org/camps or call 512–303–5073.

Mad Science: Experiment with Summer!

Parents are discovering that their elementary students and preschoolers can have fun, experiment and learn all at the same time with Mad Science Summer Camps! Mad Science camps spark imaginative learning with their interactive approach of using hands-on experiments and activities. These camps are fun, educational and located are all over the Austin area.

Mad Science summer camps allow children to uncover the secrets of spies, step into the shoes of an engineer, blast off rockets like an astronaut, rewire robots and so much more. Mad Science offers 9 different summer camps to choose from and the variety of topics is appealing to children ages 4 to 12. There are locations all over town with half day and full day camps available.

Camp dates, locations and descriptions can be viewed online at austin.madscience.org. See the full camp schedule or call 512-892-1143 for more details. Mad Science is putting the fun back into learning!

Features of the Program Include…

Hand-on Activities: Mad Science camps are full of hands-on activities and projects that children will make and take home each day of the program.

Active Games: Throughout the week campers will play games that reinforce the science concepts that they have learned in a fun and active setting.

Full Day and Half Day Available: Mad Science offers half day camps in addition to full day camps with an extended day option.

Locations All Over Town: Convenient locations are located throughout the city and suburbs.

Background:

Mad Science of Austin and San Antonio is the only Mad Science four-time Franchise of the Year winner and is locally owned and operated. Our mission is to spark the imagination and curiosity of children by providing them with fun, hands-on and educational activities that instill a clearer understanding of what science is really about and how it affects the world around them. Mad Science offers in-class workshops, after school enrichment programs, summer camps, school assemblies, special events, birthday parties, and more for children 4 to 12 years old. In addition to Mad Science camps, this location also offers two Imagine Arts Academy camps. With eleven different themes to choose from, there is a fun time awaiting everyone including the smallest scientist, the aspiring rocketeer, robot engineers and even the inspired artist.

Learn skills and have fun with Lonestar Soccer Club

Lonestar Soccer Programs provide one of the best ways to keep your player active, healthy, and engaged in soccer throughout the year in a fun, individually focused curriculum that develops soccer skills, builds social skills, and creates lasting memories for all players.

Our soccer camps and leagues are held weekly throughout North/South/Central Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Williamson County and Hays County with both indoor and outdoor options.

“My kids had a blast at Lonestar Camps! The coaches made every day exciting, challenging and developmentally appropriate for each skill level. My kids couldn’t wait to start the fall season and show off the new skills they learned.” — K. Neilond (mother to two soccer players).

Each day includes individual foot skills, technical drills, tactical practices, small-sided games, coached scrimmages, speed and agility training, daily tournaments and more. Our camp programs are designed around developing a player’s individual technique and love for the ‘beautiful game’ in a fun, safe and challenging environment. Our experienced and nationally licensed staff brings extensive professional soccer coaching experience and offers an unmatched level of talent and enthusiasm for teaching your child the greatest game in the world.

Lonestar Soccer Programs are an exclusive opportunity for players of all ages and levels to learn and be exposed to the highest level of coaching in the greater Austin area! Our expert coaches have played at the top levels from collegiate to professional and provide players an individually focused curriculum to develop their soccer skills, build social skills and create lasting memories. Make this the best summer ever and join us for a fun way to keep active, healthy and engaged in soccer throughout one of our indoor or outdoor week-long camps or summer leagues.

For more information, including camp and league dates and detailed pricing information, please visit www.lonestar-sc.com. We can’t wait to see you on the field with us this year!

kidsActing, Austin’s favorite and longest-operating year-round school for young performers, has offered engaging summer camps for children ages 4-18 since 1980. This year we’re going all out as we host award-winning single and multiple week camps — all of which culminate in performances for friends and family. Most importantly, kidsActing ensures a summer filled with friends and fun.

WHY ENROLL IN A CAMP AT KIDSACTING?

For starters, summer camps at kidsActing revolve around producing a show for family and friends. They’re designed to be FUN while also teaching kids how to audition, memorize lines, block scenes, sing and learn music (if it’s a music camp), dance or perform stage combat, and create and become characters who captivate audiences.

kidsActing camps are taught in easily digested blocks: new skills, review, fun. These mini-intensives are designed to create a trusting and connected team, encouraging kids to safely stretch outside their comfort zone, and experience creativity in a tactile way.

OUR MULTI-WEEK CAMPS

kidsActing’s multi-week camps are 3 or 4 weeks, for ages 8-18. This year’s multi-week camps include the 3-week, Full-Scale Play Productionin June, and the 4-week, Full-Scale Musical Production in July. There is also a Student Tech Theatre program for ages 13 and up.

Campers rehearse as well as perform at Center Stage Theatre, our full-sized venue. They learn to trust, listen, and communicate to build relationships on stage with their characters. Campers in a full-scale production experience a professionally produced show from first auditions to final bows.

Professional directors, choreographers, and vocal teachers lead the multi-week production camps. Full-Scale plays and musicals also have professionally designed costumes, make-up/hair, sets, props, lights, sound, and live accompaniment (for musicals).

SINGLE-WEEK CAMPS

Our one-week camps are five full days of fun for various age groups from 5-16. This year, we’re offering several popular camps, including:

Triple Threat Musicals (Various age groups, 5-16)

Campers will sing, dance and act while playing fun theatre games. Kids will perform in a mini-musical revue complete with costumes, lights, live music, and above all, FUN. Each camp emphasizes a specific musical theme.

Adventures in Acting (Various age groups 6-14)

Campers are invited to join an EPIC journey with no singing required! Campers interested in acting and stage combat become a character in an amazing adventure, and treat friends and family to a performance complete with costumes, lights, and props. There are great roles for everyone, and each camp emphasizes a specific theme.

Greatest Showman Show Choir (formerly Glee) (Various age groups 7-14)

In our Greatest Showman show choir, our professional choreographer and vocal coach provide a great week of singing and dancing as a group. Kids get voice training from a professional and learn to harmonize and dance like pros. Our summer show choir is all about The Greatest Showman, including all your favorite songs from the movie. At the end of the week, kids perform a fabulous show for family and friends.

Creative Kids (Half-Day for Ages 4-8)

These half-day Triple Threat camps are playful fun for our younger theatre kids. Each camp has a specific musical theme where the young ones work together to prepare a mini-musical revue, complete with costumes, lights, props, and live music. There are great roles for everyone, and each camp emphasizes a specific musical theme.

ACT NOW!

Award-Winning kidsActing summer camps are a place where children of all ages will not only get the chance to learn valuable skills and have fun, but also to let their star shine all summer long. kidsActing camps are hosted in over 15 locations in and around Austin. It’s easy to find a summer camp in your neighborhood. Visit www.kidsActingStudio.com for more details or call 512-836-5437.

Iron Horse Country Ranch Motorcycle Summer Camp

One of the greatest experiences your child will ever have is to drive an off-road motorcycle in the great outdoors. Iron Horse Country Ranch Motorcycle Summer Camp offers just that, and so much more!

What is provided: Weekly Day and Overnight Sessions. Campers learn how to ride dirt bikes on a beautiful, 100-acre Texas Hill Country ranch complete with rolling hills, woods and creeks, a large fishing pond and over 8 miles of tracks, trails and motocross training ranges. Motorcycle riding is combined with traditional camp activities such as swimming, games and, for overnight weeks, campfires, s’mores and fireworks!

Who gets to come:Girls and boys ages 8-15. From beginners on up. The camp supplies all the gear, training and motorcycles for the week. Most campers come never having ridden a dirt bike before. Kids come from all over the country to ride at this one-of-a-kind premier camp.

FUN starts with Safety: The training program is based on the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) and is tuned to children. It is consequently one of the safest programs for learning to ride dirt bike motorcycles in the country. The camp starts from the ground up. The number one goal is for campers to have FUN — kids have to feel safe and competent if they are to enjoy themselves. Your child will be carefully oriented and always watched and instructed by coaches on the ranch. All safety gear is provided. It is for this reason that Iron Horse has thrived over the last decade, why word-of- mouth has given the camp many new fans and why it has become one of the only summer camp motocross facilities in the country.

There’s more than motorcycles: The camp aims to get your child to experience life in the great outdoors, at its best. The daily schedule provides opportunities to go fishing, swim, play water volleyball, air-hockey, ping-pong and other games. Overnight Camp weeks offer sunset rides, outdoor evening games and moonlight swims before the day is put to rest.

The camp provides everything your child needs — Honda CRF off-road trail motorcycle models, safety gear, snacks, drinks, a great place to ride with instruction, and an 8-1 ratio of riders to instructor. All meals provided for overnight weeks. Facilities include air-conditioned bunk house, recreation center, club house with a swimming pool, a café and more.

Transportation is provided to and from camp in an air-conditioned coach bus that serves the Northwest Austin, Cedar Park, Leander and Georgetown areas, complete with TVs and friendly staff.

Extend-A-Care for Kids’ Summer Day Camp (5-12 year olds) is the place to keep your children physically active and engaged in learning activities while making new friends and enjoying new experiences. Our Summer Day Camp environment allows children to have positive social experiences through enrichment activities that promote social emotional learning (self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, self-awareness, and responsible decision-making),voice and choice, creativity, physical activities and others.

Throughout the summer, your child will experience a variety of enriching activities such as basketball, soccer, baseball, flag football, arts & crafts, cooking, painting and much more! Our summer curriculum is based on weekly themes, which are developed from children’s literature books introduced to students during the camp. This offers children a constant source of new and interesting material and activities.

This summer’s theme is “Enchanted Summer”— between “once upon a time” and “happily ever-after” lies a magical world of possibilities, heroics, fantasy and fun with all the giant-battling, spell-casting, princess-saving glory and adventure a camper’s imagination can conjure and create. Join Extend-A-Care for Kids this summer as we explore the realms of magic, mystery and enchantment found in literature, expression, science and nature.

Children will also attend weekly field trips—one on-site trip and one off-site trip each week for the exception of session 1 and 1A. The Extend-A-Care for Kids Summer 2019 Camp will also feature exciting clubs for your children! The clubs include the Kindle club, Film Club, Fitness club, Calligraphy/Drawing club, a LEGO Robotics club, a Photography club, and an XBOX club! These clubs will rotate through the sites during the summer, which will provide every child a chance to experience the fabulous clubs.

With dozens of camp experiences to enjoy, Extend-A-Care is a one-of-a-kind camp with something for every kid. For more information on Extend-A-Care summer programs, and to register your kid(s) for Extend-A-Care’s “Enchanted Summer” camp, please visit www.eackids.org. Register today!

Kids develop skills and a love for art while connecting with Austin’s creative spirit at The Contemporary Austin!

Unlock the magic of the potter’s wheel. Draw a portrait of yourself, your favorite animal, or even a robot from your imagination. Paint landscapes along the banks of Lake Austin. Design a video game. Explore Austin’s urban environment through photos or sketches from a rooftop deck overlooking downtown. Cut, grind, and weld a steel sculpture. These are just some of the many options at The Contemporary Austin Art School.

Perched along the Colorado River just south of Mt. Bonnell, the 14-acres of the Contemporary Austin –Laguna Gloria house the majority of the Art School’s summer program. And, with nearly 200 classes for all ages from preschool to high school, there is something for everyone.

“Many of the classes for our youngest students revolve around a creative theme or subject matter to draw them into a love of making art,” explains the school’s director, Matt Hoggle.

In Art Around the World, kids travel the world while learning about the art of native cultures, from Hopi sculptures, to Japanese origami, to Egyptian masks, and more. In Dynamic Dinosaurs, budding artists uncover, gather, and exhibit their own dino treasures, including plaster casts, newspaper bones, and clay artifacts. “Space Voyagers, Beautiful Bugs, The World of Dr. Seuss, Castles, Kings, and Queens … There is a class that will build on the interests of nearly any child,” Hoggle continued.

Older kids spend more time focusing on specific mediums or movements. In classes like Cartooning, Digital Photo and Photoshop, Claymation, or Mosaics, students can explore different facets of a particular medium or process, while classes like Fun with Frida, Explorations in Abstract Art, Classical Drawing and Painting, and So Surreal immerse them in the world of a particular artist or style.

“We’re an Art School that caters to beginners and experienced artists alike, so for the high schoolers, we try to offer classes suited to young people with a general interest in art, as well as those who are ready to begin developing their portfolio,” Hoggle explained. “In that sense, The Contemporary Austin – Art School is a particular good choice regardless of your level.”

Experienced teen artists may advance their skills in Life Drawing for Teens,Working with Wood and Steel,and other advanced classes, while artists of any experience level can jump into Painting for Teens, Mural Painting for Teens, Ceramics for Teens, and more.

The Contemporary Austin is home to both Laguna Gloria—an inspiring art-in-nature site and home to a contemporary sculpture park—and the dynamic downtown museum the Jones Center on Congress Avenue. For the urbanites, our downtown Jones Center location also offers a handful of classes in the summer, including Urban Photography and Skyline Drawing on the Moody Rooftop.

The unique settings of Laguna Gloria and the Jones Center bring special opportunities for The Contemporary’s students. Classes regularly take advantage of guided tours offered by the museum’s staff and docents, allowing them to see and discuss contemporary sculpture and installations from world famous artists – inspiring and thought-provoking installations by Ai Wei Wei, Jim Hodges, and Terry Allen are just some of the art currently on view.

“It’s important that our kids not just learn and create, but that they have fun doing it,” Hoggle continued. “The skills learned in our classes can benefit future engineers just as much as they can inspire future artists and architects. Our goal is to provide a broad, exciting, and enriching experience for every student.”

Details: Weeklong summer classes begin the day after Memorial Day (May 28), and run through August 16. Classes are held weekdays 9 a.m. until noon, and 1 pm until 4 p.m. Classes fill quickly, so don’t wait to sign up! Register online at www.thecontemporaryaustin.org, or by calling 512-323-6380. We look forward to seeing you this summer!

Kids develop skills and a love for art while connecting with Austin’s creative spirit at The Contemporary Austin!

Unlock the magic of the potter’s wheel. Draw a portrait of yourself, your favorite animal, or even a robot from your imagination. Paint landscapes along the banks of Lake Austin. Design a video game. Explore Austin’s urban environment through photos or sketches from a rooftop deck overlooking downtown. Cut, grind, and weld a steel sculpture. These are just some of the many options at The Contemporary Austin Art School.

Perched along the Colorado River just south of Mt. Bonnell, the 14-acres of the Contemporary Austin –Laguna Gloria house the majority of the Art School’s summer program. And, with nearly 200 classes for all ages from preschool to high school, there is something for everyone.

“Many of the classes for our youngest students revolve around a creative theme or subject matter to draw them into a love of making art,” explains the school’s director, Matt Hoggle.

In Art Around the World, kids travel the world while learning about the art of native cultures, from Hopi sculptures, to Japanese origami, to Egyptian masks, and more. In Dynamic Dinosaurs, budding artists uncover, gather, and exhibit their own dino treasures, including plaster casts, newspaper bones, and clay artifacts. “Space Voyagers, Beautiful Bugs, The World of Dr. Seuss, Castles, Kings, and Queens … There is a class that will build on the interests of nearly any child,” Hoggle continued.

Older kids spend more time focusing on specific mediums or movements. In classes like Cartooning, Digital Photo and Photoshop, Claymation, or Mosaics, students can explore different facets of a particular medium or process, while classes like Fun with Frida, Explorations in Abstract Art, Classical Drawing and Painting, and So Surreal immerse them in the world of a particular artist or style.

“We’re an Art School that caters to beginners and experienced artists alike, so for the high schoolers, we try to offer classes suited to young people with a general interest in art, as well as those who are ready to begin developing their portfolio,” Hoggle explained. “In that sense, The Contemporary Austin – Art School is a particular good choice regardless of your level.”

Experienced teen artists may advance their skills in Life Drawing for Teens,Working with Wood and Steel,and other advanced classes, while artists of any experience level can jump into Painting for Teens, Mural Painting for Teens, Ceramics for Teens, and more.

The Contemporary Austin is home to both Laguna Gloria—an inspiring art-in-nature site and home to a contemporary sculpture park—and the dynamic downtown museum the Jones Center on Congress Avenue. For the urbanites, our downtown Jones Center location also offers a handful of classes in the summer, including Urban Photography and Skyline Drawing on the Moody Rooftop.

The unique settings of Laguna Gloria and the Jones Center bring special opportunities for The Contemporary’s students. Classes regularly take advantage of guided tours offered by the museum’s staff and docents, allowing them to see and discuss contemporary sculpture and installations from world famous artists – inspiring and thought-provoking installations by Ai Wei Wei, Jim Hodges, and Terry Allen are just some of the art currently on view.

“It’s important that our kids not just learn and create, but that they have fun doing it,” Hoggle continued. “The skills learned in our classes can benefit future engineers just as much as they can inspire future artists and architects. Our goal is to provide a broad, exciting, and enriching experience for every student.”

Details: Weeklong summer classes begin the day after Memorial Day (May 28), and run through August 16. Classes are held weekdays 9 a.m. until noon, and 1 pm until 4 p.m. Classes fill quickly, so don’t wait to sign up! Register online at www.thecontemporaryaustin.org, or by calling 512-323-6380. We look forward to seeing you this summer!

Chaparral Ice keeps ‘em cool when they’re out of school

By Kathy Goeke

The coolest camps in town are at Chaparral Ice! Beat the Texas heat and learn to ice skate at our award-winning spring break and summer camps, voted best sports camp in Austin by Camp Sloop subscribers.

Chaparral Ice offers three full-service day camps each year — Camp de Champs Spring Break Camp, Camp de Champs Summer Camp and Camp Avalanche Summer Adventure Camp. All camps offer a full day of activities including supervised ice skating, team building, games and, of course, fun!

Camp de Champs Spring Break Camp – March 18-22, $315

At Chaparral’s Camp de Champs spring break and summer camps, your child will spend the day learning how to ice skate with two classes taught by certified Learn to Skate USA coaches, plus up to four hours of supervised free skating each day.

Camp de Champs off-ice activities will help your camper achieve their skating goals and feature training techniques, warmups and conditioning exercises approved by U.S. Figure Skating and USA Hockey.

Activities throughout the week include team building, games, and arts and crafts such as puzzle-making, vision boards and miniature gardening.

Camp de Champs is based on skating, but campers also come just for a full day of fun.

Enroll online now at chaparralice.com. Spaces are limited and typically sell out early.

Adventure is the name of the game at Camp Avalanche! Your child will skate and also discover the most outrageous quests Austin has to offer.

Each week, campers board the Chaparral bus for field trips to destinations including Typhoon Texas, Zipline Adventures at Candlelight Ranch, Quest Wakeboard and Water Adventure Park, Dart ‘Em Up and more.

If raising an emotionally healthy, well-adjusted and confident child is your goal as a parent, send him or her to summer camp.

The best summer camps are places where kids can learn life skills in a safe environment under the leadership of caring adults, said Jay Toporoff, director of Camp Danbee, a summer camp for girls in the Berkshire Mountains in Western Massachusetts. It’s a place where a child can stumble, fall down, pick themselves up and try again better-prepared.

At camp, “children learn how to communicate, compromise, develop life-skill sets they can use as they grow, separate from families, create their own identities and build resilience. In a nutshell, children become empowered,” he said.

“Children have to take on responsibilities and learn to accept failure as they manage things like bunkmate issues and cabin chores,” Toporoff said. “Camp also presents the opportunity for kids to create the rules of their own community, such as setting up bunk guidelines that impact all in the cabin.”

Being away from their parents, campers have to make their own decisions and learn from them, he said.

Summer camp can also be a place where children can expand their horizons and interact with people who are different from themselves.

“Camp is a crucible for teaching empathy, acceptance and tolerance. People are thrust into a living environment that breaks down stereotypes, helps children find commonalities and develop friendships that are based on the person and not the ethnicity or religion or gender of their new friends,” Toporoff said.

Camp is also a place for kids to take risks and try new things, like learning to shoot archery or succeed at a high-ropes course.

“Pushing personal limits in a safe place allows campers to expand their horizons. Taking risks, succeeding, failing and encouraging others to do the same makes for great personal growth and character-building,” Toporoff said.

Letting a child leave the nest can be a scary proposition for parents.

“It is a two-way street where both parent and child allow themselves to let go. Seeing their camper develop skills, cement friendships with both staff and fellow campers, and simply smile for no apparent reason other than their child found a second home &#8212; it is a win-win for both parents and camper,” Toporoff said.

“Camp is an amazing opportunity to help kids grow. It is also a time where they can learn gratitude,” Toporoff said. “At Camp Danbee’s opening bonfire campers are reminded that not everyone gets to go to camp. Most children in the world will never experience the friendships, activities and special memories that camper will have. We challenge our campers to pay it forward through acts of kindness and community service as a way to say ‘thank you’ for their opportunity to experience camp and all it has to offer them.”

One of the biggest trends in summer camps is the way they allow kids to make friends the old fashioned way; in person.

“Summer camp is a place where kids can build friendships the way their parents did; face-to-face and heart-to-heart,” said Tom Rosenberg, president and chief executive officer of the American Camp Association. “It’s a place where kids can just be kids. It’s an intentionally safe, human-powered, immersive social environment.”

Making friends the traditional way is a throwback for some kids. A recent study from the Pew Research Center found that while 57 percent of boys and girls ages 13 to 17 have made new friends online, most of these friendships stay in the digital space. Only 20 percent of all teens say they have met an online friend in person.

For overnight campers who spend several days or weeks away from their families, the absence of screens allows kids to develop “human-centered skills” such as cultivating friendships, collaborating on projects and developing their own self-awareness and identity, Rosenberg said. The majority of summer camps, 90 percent, do not allow screens, according to research from the American Camp Association.

Also trending are specialty camps that provide a variety of activities to meet many interests, Rosenberg said:

– Especially popular are STEM camps that explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Kids may be building robots, learning how to code or studying sustainable energy.

– Getting back to nature seems to appeal to young campers, who are increasingly signing up for summer sessions that explore farming, ranching, gardening and cooking. For example, farm campers tend to animals and organic gardens, go on hayrides and learn the importance of taking care of the Earth.

– Arts and crafts camps are perennially popular choices, but today’s campers are doing more than coloring and painting. These fine art classes include silversmithing, glassblowing, jewelry design, animation, fiber art and more.

– Adventure is a hit with campers, and activities like challenge courses, zip lines, backpacking and mountain biking are big draws.

– Nearly half of camps incorporate community service into the curriculum, with projects that include community clean-ups, food drives and volunteering with senior citizens and hospital patients.

When choosing a summer camp, be sure it’s accredited by the American Camp Association, the only independent accrediting organization reviewing camp operations in the country. To find a camp that’s a good fit for your child, use the organization’s Find A Camp tool, find.acacamps.org.

Making friends is easy for some people and harder for others, but at summer camp making connections is one of the main goals. The kids are all attending camp together, usually away from their circle of friends. The adults are trying to create a sense of belonging and connectedness.

“Friendship is a two-way street,” said Jason Sebell, a director at Camps Kenwood and Evergreen in Wilmot, New Hampshire. You need to signal to others that you are open to friendship, he said.

Approaching a potential friend and saying “Can we be friends?” is awkward. Instead, make yourself look appealing as a friend.

“The easiest way to make a friend is to do something fun” like playing a game, Sebell said.

Ever heard of roof ball? All you need is a tennis ball and a building. Throw the ball at the roof, then catch it.

“You can play it alone. You can invite someone watching to join in,” Sebell said.

If it’s a more organized game like basketball, wait for a break and then ask to join in, said Fred Frankel, professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at University of California Los Angeles and former director of the UCLA’s Children’s Friendship Programs.

The main key to building a friendship is to strike up a commonality, Frankel said. Make it easier for others to see what your interests are. If you’re into music, wear a T-shirt broadcasting your favorite band’s name. A shirt with a funny take on a math equation or the periodic table shows that you think learning is cool.

Be approachable

Most people think they are approachable, but not everyone is always correct, Sebell said. Parents can help. Send your child to camp with something small that they can share with others such as a deck of cards or a small Lego set, he said.

Encourage your child to have empathy, Sebell said. Initial attempts at friendship may falter a bit, but kids who are polite, caring and respectful will be more successful than those who aren’t. A smile goes a long way.

“Most people go to camp to make friends. If a conversation is awkward, give it a minute. This could be a friend. So much of camp is what you put into it,” Sebell said.

Be open to new friends

“Campers should be prepared to come to camp open-minded and ready to participate and try new things. They should be willing to put themselves out there, talk to new people and ask the adults if they need help,” said Louis Lasko, assistant camp director at Camp Laurelwood, a Jewish overnight camp in Madison, Connecticut. “It is important that parents talk about making friends so their kids are prepared for a new social experience. New campers need to know that making friends may be challenging at first, but if they put in the effort they can make lifelong friends.”

Great summer experiences start before kids even arrive at camp. Some camps ask families to fill out a dossier of questions about their camper indicating their interests and characteristics. If the camp offers a get-together event, attend so that your child can meet potential friends, Sebell said.

Kids today are super-connected, so it can be a surprise or even a shock to learn that most summer camps follow a no-phone policy. Both parents and kids may push back at the idea of losing connection while at camp, but the experts say kids benefit from time away from their phones.

“Camp is one of very few places today where kids have the opportunity to truly unplug. Unplugging allows this generation to create strong authentic connections with others,” said Dayna Hardin, president of CampGroup and owner/director of Lake of the Woods and Greenwoods camps in Michigan. “In the end that is perhaps why campers say their camp friends are their best friends, or ‘my camp friends know me better than anyone else at home.’ It’s really no surprise &#8212; real friends are more meaningful than digital friends.”

Losing the immediate connection to a parent that a phone provides allows kids to grow and problem-solve on their own.

“By removing what is often 24/7 communication between parents and their children, campers really do learn how to navigate and work through normal challenges,” Hardin said. “When we allow children to navigate on their own, in a safe environment, they learn coping skills and become more resilient.”

Unplug and be a kid

“Many children today are scrolling through life instead of living it,” Hardin said. “We know that over-engagement with social media can cause anxiety and feelings of low self-esteem. There are many studies, including one from Stanford, showing that being in nature yields measurable mental health benefits and may reduce risk of depression.”

At home and plugged in, many kids suffer from FOMO, or “fear of missing out,” but not at camp, Hardin said.

“Imagine the feeling of seeing all of your friends at a sleepover that you were not invited to on Snapchat. How would you feel? The fear of missing out creates a lot of anxiety,” she said.

Who needs it more

Before camp begins, both parents and kids are fairly anxious about the no-phone policy, Hardin said. Once camp starts, kids “actually feel relieved. They do not feel any pressure reply to a message or constantly check Snapchat or Instagram to see what they are missing,” Hardin said.

Parents have a harder time giving up instant access to their kids, and that can create anxiety, she said. Good camps have communication plans in place (daily photo galleries, weekly videos on social media, newsletters and phone calls or email chats) so parents can feel connected and “see” what their kids are up to while they are away, Hardin said.

Breaking the rules

“Most of us camp directors know all the cellphone tricks,” Hardin said. “Yes, some kids will try to hide their phones. Some kids bring a decoy phone to camp, meaning they turn one in, but have another one. Parents are the ones promoting this. We tell our parents if we have a rule, we are going to enforce it. If your child has a phone at camp, you are doing them a disservice and we will take it away.”

The pushback on the no-phone policy has eased in recent years as parents have become more concerned with screen addiction, Hardin said.

A classroom might seem like the last place high-schoolers would want to spend those precious few weeks of summer vacation, but there might be all kinds of benefits.

There are hundreds of pre-college summer programs, many on college campuses, that offer both credit and non-credit options that range in length, cost and intensity. Many offer day and residential options. They offer high school students the chance to try out life on campus and even get some college credits under their belts.

Courses range from the arts to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), and from entrepreneurship to foreign language. Some last a week; other last several weeks and offer college credit.

“Taking college courses during the summer can be a great way to start to get a feel for the academic expectations of a college classroom and can enhance the rigor of your high school curriculum,” said Mike Lynch, director of undergraduate admission at Emerson College in Boston who meets high school students when they attend Emerson’s summer programs. “Doing well in a college course can help admission officers begin to answer the question, ‘Is this student ready for college-level work?'”

A way to explore new ground

Summer courses should be about exploration or enrichment, said Andrew Palumbo, dean of admissions at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.

“What we don’t want is students trying to impress the admissions committee and guess what we’re looking for,” he said. “There’s not one formula that’s going to lead to admission. At a school like WPI, we’re completing an individual, holistic review for each student that’s going to take into consideration their personal context.”

Summer courses won’t make or break admission for a student, he says, but having them on your resume will give admissions officers some insight as to things that are important to you.

“High school summers are a finite resource. How students choose to use the summer tells us a little bit about that applicant,” Palumbo says.

Show that you love a challenge

David Dollins agrees that taking college-credit courses can be advantageous for high school students. Dollins is assistant vice president of enrollment management at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. He’s also worked in admissions at Northern Arizona University and Colorado State.

“It shows hard work and dedication, and that grit component is something that a lot of admissions officers are looking for,” he said. “College has highs and lows during the four years. Summer courses show they can do college-level work, but also that they’ve challenged themselves and they are motivated. Faculty members love students who are engaged in the academic experience.”

Classes in an overnight summer program can give future college students “a confidence boost,” said Palumbo.

“One of the most difficult parts for most college students is the transition to a residential experience,” he said.

But students who have participated in overnight summer programs on college campuses learn more than academics and have an advantage over other incoming freshmen.

“They’ve gotten over the hiccups of how do you engage with other students when you don’t know anyone,” he said. “What is it like to have some back-and-forth with a college professor? They’re having some of these experiences earlier, so they have a little comfort that their peers don’t.”

Check whether credits will count

One advantage, especially for STEM students, is that taking a course or two for credit before college can help them progress to hands-on projects and upper level courses earlier in their college careers, says Palumbo.

But that’s not always the case, he warns. Some colleges want to be sure students all have the same foundation in a course.

“A calculus class should be a calculus class, but, in reality, colleges and universities make decisions, whether it’s calculus or physics, about what’s going to be offered in an introductory course and how that supports all of the coursework that students scaffold on top of that foundation,” he said.

That’s why it’s important to check into whether you’ll be able to transfer credits you earn over the summer.

“There’s no foolproof way of knowing,” said Palumbo. “It’s going to be different for every institution. A lot of schools have a credit-transfer database on their website. It will list what colleges and courses have received credit at that institution.”

And course credit may not be the most important takeaway from a summer program.

“From my perspective, the real value of a summer course is the experience. The secondary value is the potential flexibility it brings with credits,” Palumbo says.

If you do want to rack up some advance credits, general education courses are going to be most beneficial, says Dollins.

“They will help you advance through the general education curriculum more quickly and get into your major sooner. College level math, English 101 and 102; just knock that out of the way.”

Palumbo encourages students also to explore something new.

“Particularly in the STEM world, there is a hyper-focus on the major,” he said. “Maybe applicants are great at math and science, but they’ve also challenged themselves and excelled in the social sciences or a language or English. We don’t want them to lose that interest or that skill set.”

The best part of taking summer college courses, Dollins says, is that it helps to demystify college course work.

“There’s an impression that college is going to be more difficult. It is more challenging, but it’s very doable for students,” he said. “Summer courses help you build the confidence to succeed during your first year and beyond.”

If you’re looking to explore academic summer programs for high school students, you might want to check out these:

TeenLife Media connects students, parents and educators with the best teen opportunities outside the classroom, including pre-college, summer, arts, therapeutic, gap and community service programs. Find out more at teenlife.com.

Elizabeth Much’s summer camp days are long behind her, but the friendships she made 30 years ago are still going strong. What is it about summer camp friendships?

“Summer camp is a life-changing experience,” said Much, chief executive officer of East 2 West Collective, a public relations agency with offices in Los Angeles and New York City. “Living in close proximity with other girls your age in a small cabin is intense. It’s like a female lifeboat. It’s all about friendship and camaraderie.”

From ages 9 to 14 Much spent weeks of each summer at Eagle River, Wisconsin’s Chippewa Ranch Camp, a classic girls summer camp set under a canopy of red and white pine trees alongside a clear, sandy-bottomed lake.

“The experience defined my life,” Much said.

Summer camp is a transitive experience where children are freed from parental supervision yet safely contained and watched over by camp counselors whose aim is to create meaningful, memorable moments.

“Summer camp creates a special bond between friends. It’s a special place where kids can develop close friendships as they experience new things together,” said Louis Lasko, assistant camp director of Camp Laurelwood in Madison, Connecticut.

For many kids the new experiences are not just horseback riding or water skiing.

“At camp you really get down and dirty. Your parents are not there to do things for you. You have to work together to do linens, pitch the tent, clean the cabin, start a fire,” Much said.

Living in such close quarters brings kids together and makes them more well-rounded and self-sufficient, Much said.

“I think sharing memories for eight weeks &#8212; meals, activities, being homesick, laughing, etc. &#8212; allows you to grow with friends,” said Samantha Wenig, vice president of London Misher Public Relations in New York City and alumna of Camp Robindel in Center Harbor, New Hampshire. “We were in bunks with 20-plus girls so it was also really nice to learn about everyone’s family, traditions and stories. I was also lucky that a lot of my best camp friends live close to me during the school year so we were able to see each other prior to the next summer.”

Even if summer camp friends don’t live near each other they often stay in touch and share special parts of each other’s lives, such as standing up in each other’s weddings, Lasko said.

In summer 2017, Much attended a Chippewa Ranch Camp reunion staying with three other alums in a cabin.

“It was like time had stood still. We felt like teen girls again. That’s the intensity of the feeling,” she said.

Reigniting friendships, they spoke of marriages, divorces and illnesses. “It was very powerful,” Much said.

They spent the days enjoying the trees and nature, riding horses, waterskiing and canoeing, then winding down around the campfire at night.

“Everybody remembered every word of the campfire songs we sang,” Much said.

As an adult many of Wenig’s camp friends are still a part of her daily life.

“Good friends are forever and will love you no matter what. … Pretty amazing to have these special bonds that were all made within eight weeks at camp,” Wenig said.

People who have made long-lasting camp friendships are often inspired to have their own children attend the same camp so their kids can also be friends, Lasko said.

Wenig’s mother, Jody Berger Wenig, also went to Camp Robindel. “I loved seeing her name written in the bunks,” Wenig said.

Sleep-away camp is a big deal for both campers and their parents, and it often brings feelings of excitement and anxiety. Is your child ready for it?

“One way to gauge a child’s readiness for overnight camp is if the child has had successful overnight experiences away from home, at a friend’s or relative’s,” said Tom Rosenberg, president/chief executive officer of the American Camp Association. “Beyond those experiences, parents should involve their child in the search and preparation process. Reach out to the camp director and ask questions. If possible, tour prospective camps in person prior to choosing.”

Missing home is normal

“Homesickness is not a sickness. It’s normal for kids to miss home. Kids can have the most wonderful time at camp and still feel homesick,” said Corey Dockswell, director of Camp Wicosuta, a traditional four-week sleep-away camp for girls in Hebron, New Hampshire.

What’s most important is to take your cues from you child, Dockswell said.

“If they’re excited about camp, talk about what fun they’re going to have. Don’t put negative thought in their head,” she said.

What to look forward to

“The best thing is for families to stay positive,” said Jared Shapiro, director of Camp Winadu, a boys summer camp in the Berkshire Mountains, Massachusetts. “Talk about all the friends they’re going to make, all the fun activities they’re going to do. What’s unknown is what often makes kids nervous, so discuss what they should expect.”

“Parents should discuss the info they’ve gathered in the search process,” Rosenberg said. “Discuss the answers that camp directors have given the family. Check out the camp’s website as a family and look at packing lists, maps of the camp, photos from last summer.”

How to stay in touch

Whether they’re going for a few weeks or all summer long, let your child know how you will be staying in touch, if it’s by letter, email or phone call, Shapiro said. Learn what the camp policy is so they will know what to expect, he said.

Make getting prepared fun

Take a trip to the store together or pack things from home to make their cabin a home away from home, Dockswell said. Kids will feel more comfortable surrounded by their favorite blankets and stuffed animals, photos of family and friends, and small games.

No pick-up deals

Avoid any suggestions that you will pick up your camper if he feels homesick or unhappy, all experts agreed.

“This conveys a message of doubt and pity that undermines children’s confidence and independence,” Rosenberg said. “The camp director and camp staff are your partners. If your child is homesick, feel free to call the camp and discuss ways in which you can work together to solve the problem.”

Make a fast getaway

When saying goodbye, the best course is to make it quick and easy, the shorter the better, Dockswell said. Prepare your child by telling them how it will go. For example, when you drop her off at the bus tell her you will give her a hug but you won’t be getting on the bus with her.

“Take a deep breath. Save those emotions for after the bus pulls away so your child knows you’re 100 percent behind the decision to go to camp,” she said.

Questions to ask

Camps accredited by the American Camp Association have voluntarily met up to 300 health and safety standards through a peer review, Rosenberg said. The American Camp Association recommends visiting the camp in person, if possible. This will allow the family to calm any fears and get a firsthand preview of the experience.

Other questions to ask when choosing a camp include:

What is the camp’s philosophy and program emphasis?

What is the camp director’s background?

What training do counselors receive? What is the counselor-to-camper ratio?

Packing for summer camp can be a chore or a fun family activity. Follow these tips for a better process.

Involve campers

“While it might be easier as a parent of a young child to just do it yourself, it’s worth the extra time and effort to involve the campers,” said Carolyn Dorfman, director at Camp Walt Whitman, which offers co-ed summer camps in Piermont, New Hampshire. “On the most basic level, it’s good for kids to see what is going in the bag. Since part of the camp experience is learning to take greater responsibility of your items, it’s helpful when kids know what these items actually are.”

It also can help soothe nervous campers because it gives them a sense of control, Dorfman said.

“Camp isn’t just happening to them, as they get to decide what goes with them. Involving the kids also ensures that we don’t miss any comfort items, little things from home that sometimes we don’t think about as adults but that give kids a greater sense of security knowing it will be with them at camp,” Dorfman said.

Start early

“The preparation for packing should start weeks ahead of time, but I wouldn’t start packing too soon as many of the items that will be packed are items that your child will need at home before camp begins,” Dorfman said.

The key is to get and follow the camp’s packing list.

“We always recommend that parents don’t make themselves crazy going out to buy new items for camp unless they need to, as everything at camp is going to get really dirty and washed in a commercial laundromat,” Dorfman said.

Forget fashion

“Of all of the places to worry about children’s fashion, camp should be the last place on your list,” Dorfman said. Bring comfortable, worn-in clothes and bedding.

“Favorite old blankets, pillows and stuffed animals are way more comforting to kids when they arrive at camp then something that was just purchased new. Buying lots of new things for camp also sets parents up for disappointment as, no matter how hard kids and camps try, inevitably some items get lost or ruined during the summer,” she said.

Label it

While it’s a pain for parents, labeling items makes it more likely misplaced items will be returned their proper owners. There are plenty of options, including iron-on labels, peel-and-stick labels, sew-on labels or just plain permanent marker.

“While it takes more time, you can’t only label clothing. You should really label everything that is going to camp &#8212; sleeping bags, backpacks, tennis racquets, baseball gloves, water bottles, towels, stuffed animals, etc.,” Dorfman said. “Parents need to remember that not only are their children sharing a living space with a number of other children where things get mixed up and sometimes borrowed, they are also bringing items all over camp with them, and in the excitement of the moment things get left behind.”

Dorfman’s space-saving tips

1. Between cleats, hiking boots and sneakers there are lots of shoes that have to go to camp; make sure to use the space inside your shoes for socks and other small items.

2. Rolling clothes rather than folding them creates more space in the bag.

3. “Don’t get nervous on packing day and start throwing tons of unnecessary items into your child’s bag because your brain starts to play the ‘what if’ game. Trust yourself and trust the camp that if there is something your child needs, the camp will make sure they get it,” she said.

While some kids may feel pure excitement about heading off to summer camp, most combine those emotions with a bit of nervousness, too.

“The nerves are normal when kids are dealing with the transition from home to camp,” said Corey Dockswell, director of Camp Wicosuta, a traditional four-week sleepaway camp for girls in Hebron, New Hampshire. “The most important thing to share with your child is that they shouldn’t worry about the fact that they are feeling nervous &#8212; it’s normal.”

“For children any step toward independence involves excitement, anticipation and nervousness. It’s completely normal,” agreed Michael Thompson, a supervising psychologist at Belmont Hill School in Belmont, Massachusetts, and author of “Homesick and Happy: How Time Away from Parents Can Help a Child Grow.”

Homesick and happy

To alleviate anxiety about the upcoming separation, give your child some practice being away from you, for example through sleepovers, Thompson said. Additionally, give him some role in the decision-making about which camp he will attend, he said.

Research has shown that about 80 percent of children who go to summer camp will experience some sort of mild homesickness, Thompson said.

“Many parents don’t realize it’s possible (for summer campers) to be both homesick and happy. A child can miss home, maybe cry a little bit before going to bed, but be able to wake up happy and take part in camp life,” Thompson said.

Take your cues from your child when talking about camp before it happens, and don’t project your own concerns onto your child, Dockswell said. If you have concerns as a parent, reach out to the camp director.

“Parents know their kid’s pressure points,” Dockswell said.

If a child is a picky eater or has a difficult time falling asleep on his own, ask the camp director how to help smooth the transition.

“What can you share about the routine at camp that will help make my child feel better?” Dockswell said to ask.

How to handle nerves

Simply asking questions about camp, such as who will be their bunkmate or will they get their first choice of activities, doesn’t mean children are feeling anxious or scared, Dockswell said.

“Respond to the question your child is asking, but avoid suggesting things you might be concerned about,” he said.

While a parent wants a child to be prepared in case something goes wrong, it’s not helpful to talk about all the things that could go wrong, Dockswell said.

“That could cause a child who is fine to become nervous about camp,” he said.

Never promise that you will come get a child if she is not enjoying herself, Thompson said.

“Don’t say, ‘If it’s scary, I’ll come get you.’ Coming to the rescue is not good parenting,” he said.

Instead, assure children that they will be OK and talk about what coping skills they can use while at camp, Thompson said. Ask them if they become anxious or nervous, what will they do? Whom will they talk to?

Give your kids the amazing experience of theatrical arts during ZACH Theatre’s summer camps! Each summer, ZACH hosts a series of exciting camps for kids of all ages at its three-stage main campus, located in the heart of Austin along Lady Bird Lake. ZACH Theatre also offers camps at its North Campus at 12129 Ranch Road 620 N. As the longest continuously running theatre company in Texas, ZACH Theatre creates intimate experiences to ignite the imagination, inspire the spirit, and engage the community. ZACH Theatre has also been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Shubert Foundation, The New York Times, as well as numerous theatrical awards. Check out the camps below, and visit ZACH Theatre online at zachtheatre.org to see all summer camp offerings.

Broadway Kids: The Wizard of Oz

This class is an active and fun introduction to the world of Broadway musicals. Students act, sing, and dance while learning famous Broadway material. On the last day, family and friends are invited to a demonstration that showcases favorite song and dance numbers. This week will focus on material from The Wizard of Oz. Extended Care is available from 8:30-9 AM and 4-5:30 PM for an additional fee.

Musical Theatre Camp: Peter Pan

Grade 3 – 5
August 6 – 10, 2018 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

If your student loves to sing, dance, and act, this camp offers a chance to find out what being a “Triple Threat” is all about. Each day features learning theatre games, character development, voice and dance technique, working toward putting together a musical theatre revue. On the last day, family and friends are invited to a demonstration that showcases favorite song and dance numbers. This week will focus on material from Peter Pan. Extended Care is available from 8:30-9 AM and 4-5:30 PM for an additional fee.

Acting Workshop: Shakespeare

Grade 6 – 8
Dates: July 23 – 27, 2018 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

These exciting camps are for actors who are ready to dive into their training. Students create characters, build ensemble, and use their voice to project and articulate while having a lot of fun exploring skills and technique. On the last day, family and friends are invited to a demonstration that showcases favorite classical acting exercises and scenes. This week will focus on Shakespeare. Extended Care is available from 8:30-9 AM and 4-5:30 PM for an additional fee.

Acting Workshop: Auditioning

Grade 9 – 12
July 2 – 6, 2018 (No camp July 4th) | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

These exciting camps are for actors who are ready to dive into their training. Students create characters, build ensemble, and use their voice to project and articulate while having a lot of fun exploring skills and technique. On the last day, family and friends are invited to a demonstration that showcases favorite acting exercises and sample auditions. This week will focus on Auditioning. Extended Care is available from 8:30-9 AM and 4-5:30 PM for an additional fee.

Evaluate last year’s camps.Will you return? Did they end up being a good fit for your kids? Can you afford them? You might want to ask the camp if there were any concerns with your child last year. If your child told you camp was fine but the counselor reported that your child didn’t socialize with anyone or was disruptive, it might not be the right camp for your child. Also check out how the camp might have changed from the year before. If it’s a new curriculum or entirely new staff, it might not be as enjoyable.

What is your summer schedule?Which weeks will you be going on vacation? Which weeks might a family member be able to cover, or one parent or the other? Get an old-fashioned calendar and plot out each week. Put potential camps in pencil as you find them. Put vacations and Camp Grandma/Grandpa/Daddy/Mommy in ink.

What is your budget?It’s really easy to get out of hand. Set the budget in advance and figure out how much that averages per week, per kid. Be realistic. You are not going to find much for less than $200 or $300 a week. If your kids have their hearts set on really expensive camps, plan for less expensive camps the other weeks, and ask about scholarships. Need to trim the budget? See what’s available through your city’s parks and recreation department or through your child’s school.

What hours do you need covered each day?Can you really pick up a kid from a camp that lets out at noon or 3 p.m., or do you need everyone to stay at camp until after 5 p.m.? Also, can you start work at 9:30 a.m.? If not, camps that don’t start before 9 a.m. are not going to work for you.

Where do camps need to be located?Do you want to spend your summer on MoPac Boulevard or Interstate 35 as you try to get your Round Rock-living kids to a South Austin camp, or vice versa? If not, limit the possibilities according to where you’re willing to drive each day, twice a day.

Miley Silvas, Brooke Badger, Ayo Isola, Brittany Fontenot and Sebastian Escobar play a horse race game during Camp For All at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. You can find a camp that is right for your kid, including one that happens at their hospital. AMERICAN-STATESMAN 2016

Are there camps that would be a good fit for all of your children?This is often a hard thing to find. What might be age-appropriate for one kid might be too juvenile for another. Also, if your kids have vastly different interests, it would be hard to find a camp everyone likes. If you can’t find one camp for all, find camps that are near one another, so you’re not having to pick up kids at opposite ends of town at 5 p.m.

What are your kids interested in, and what would they like to try?Summer camp is an amazing time to try out a new activity. If your son has always said he wants to do gymnastics after school, use summer camp as a testing ground. Also consider your kid’s personality. If your daughter hates art and would rather build with blocks, a pottery camp is not a good choice, but a Lego camp is.

Where are their friends going?Pick up recommendations from fellow parents, but also consider trying out something new with a friend. It makes it easier to transition into camp if your kid has a buddy.

Where does your kid want to go?Sometimes we get so busy in the planning that we forget to ask for their opinions. So ask, then get them to prioritize the list. If you have three camps that you can only get them into on the same week, you will know which one to choose. Or if you can only afford one of your child’s dream camps, you know which one it should be.

Is your kid ready for an overnight camp?This might be the year you venture out to overnight camp. Consider if your child can stay overnight at a friend’s house successfully. Consider if your child can take care of basic needs such as dressing themselves, showering and brushing their teeth and hair. OK, some teens still struggle with this, but if your child has never done all of these things independently, work on that before signing her up.

What is the staffing like?Ask about ratios and what kinds of breaks the counselors get. Ask if every counselor is first-aid and CPR-certified, what kind of training they do and if the camp is accredited by the American Camp Association.

Shloak Gupta dumps a plastic cup of water on unsuspecting Jaedon Molinar as they play the Drip, Drip, Drop game at the YMCA of Austin Summer Camp Olympics. RALPH BARRERA/ AMERICAN-STATESMAN 2015

12. Follow word of mouth.

Your fellow parents, your kids’ teachers and counselors can give you recommendations about what camps they have tried or heard good things about. Also, ask them which camps they wouldn’t recommend.

13. Is the camp right for my child with differences?

If your child has special needs or quirks, ask the camp if it has had similar campers and what it did to accommodate them. This, of course, applies to kids who have learning differences, sensory issues and physical disabilities, but it also might apply to kids who have food, pollen and insect allergies, medical issues such as asthma, diabetes or arthritis, or personality differences such as fear of the dark or fear of animals. You want to know what kind of medical care they will have access to, what kind of accommodations can be used and what kinds of activities will be happening to make sure it’s a match. Ask your therapists, your medical professionals and your school counselors about what camps are available for kids like yours.

14. What are the campers like?

Has everyone been going to the same camp all summer long? Your child who comes in the fourth week might have trouble fitting in. The same is true if most of the campers went to daycare at that location or have been going to that camp since they were in kindergarten. Ask about the boy-girl ratio, as well as the age ratio. If most of the kids at a camp for grades kindergarten through fifth are first- or second-graders, your fourth-grader is going to hate it.

15. What is your backup plan?

If you get to camp and, after a few days, your kid hates it, gets kicked out or needs to come home, is there somewhere that will take your child for the rest of that week?

Don’t miss all the fun this summer with Tumble Tech Summer Day Camps! With 3 different options and TONS of INCREDIBLE activities your child will have a blast with instruction and guidance from our incredible staff.

Each day will be jam packed with fun activities for your child. From free play time in our big gym filled with trampolines, mats and a huge foam pit to our incredible Ninja Warrior style parkour area as well as time for arts and crafts and some organized games we will be sure to keep your children active and engaged. NEW THIS SUMMER!! We have also partnered with our neighbors at Nitro Swim Center and Austin Sports Center to provide a Mega Sports Camp that includes swimming at Nitro and a variety of sports activities at Austin Sports Center.

Camps will run Monday through Friday during the summer

You can reserve your spot for the entire week or just certain days, whatever fits your schedule best!

Space is limited so make sure to reserve your spot today!

Tumble Tech started with the promise of providing all athletes who have a passion for aerial sports a sanctuary that not only promotes athlete growth, but strives to be the most positive environment for all kids. Its coaches work to captivate and grow kids to be the best athletes they can be while allowing themselves to grow as individuals.

Tumble Tech believes in empowering our athletes to provide a positive, inclusive and supportive environment for everyone. They go above and beyond to not only do things, but to do things right while also paying attention to the small details that can make a big difference. Tumble Tech works everyday to provide excellent service to athletes, families and the community alike while providing a safe and fun place for the children of our area.

Tumble Tech has been a member of USA Gymnastics (USAG) since its inception in 2015. USAG provides credentialing for all its coaches that focus on proper skill progression and safety techniques. The education received through USAG allows its staff to be knowledgeable in a variety of sports. Tumble Tech believes that athlete safety and proper coaching education is a top priority and is constantly striving to stay up to date with this ever-changing industry. Whether your child has a passion for cheerleading, gymnastics, Parkour or free running, our mission is to not only grow athletes to their greatest potential, but to value parents and acknowledge their support and involve them in every step of the process.

STEAM Camps

Once Upon a DesignEmbark on an imaginative adventure designing and engineering solutions to problems that occurred “once upon a time” for storybook characters.

Up, Up and Away

3, 2, 1, blast off! Join us for a high-flying week of exploration and experimentation that defies gravity.

Engineering with Sound

Let’s make some noise! Boogie while making instruments, vibe with vibrations and investigate the science of sound with us.

Robotics and Programming Camps

Secret Agent Robot

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join an elite group of secret agents to use robotics to crack codes and solve fun challenges.

RoboCircus

Step right up and join the fun, robotics ringmasters! Juggle coding and creative problem solving as you build wacky, whimsical carnival contraptions.

Medieval MinecraftLet’s travel through time! Explore simple machines and tackle medieval technology to design and engineer your very own kingdom.

Thinkery is expanding its summer camp program to include FIVE locations around Austin, hosting programs at Thinkery, National Instruments, The Magellan International School, The International School of Texas and Emergent Academy.

Spend your summer tinkering, creating and coding at Thinkery

Stepping Stone School is proud to incorporate entrepreneurship and philanthropy into our summer camp program. Over the course of the summer, the children will create and run a series of four businesses from the ground up. From the purchasing of supplies to the division of duties and pricing the products, the students will control all aspects of their enterprises. They will decide what types of items to sell and how much to sell them for, as well as creating advertising for their products. Finally, they will sell their products at the front of the school every few weeks. All the proceeds from our businesses go to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin. To date, our young philanthropists have donated over $41,000 to this worthwhile cause. This year’s summer camp will feature biweekly themes exploring our children’s Creative Genius.

S.T.E.A.M. principles are integrated into our curriculum through Math and Literacy programming. The children will participate in activities, experiments and investigations of these principles each week. They will develop problem-solving skills through critical-thinking projects specific to each featured subject, playing chess and much more! From making instruments and painting self-portraits, to creating sound and visual effects, the children will be hands-on participants in their learning. Children will also experience art as a gateway to learning in each bi-weekly subject and S.T.E.A.M. concepts as a whole. Our program will excite and energize children about these subjects by showing them that discovery can not only be fun, but can shape the world for years to come. This will be accomplished through classroom activities, experiments, and our exclusive ProfessionalSpeaker Series. ™ Experts will deliver insightful presentations to the students regarding the bi-weekly themes and put the concepts into real world context, demonstrating the importance of understanding their world and opening the doors to future professions.

How is our S.T.E.A.M. Curriculum Implemented?

Science Documenting and predicting; observing the environment and phenomena; building a water filter; charting magnet races; exploring the solar system.

Technology Multimedia projects/filming interviews; using the HATCH interactive SMART board; recording a story on a computer; building solar ovens, turbines and anemometers.

Engineering Planning and building a tower; designing a picture using precut shapes; building paper boats and planes, creating a marble maze.

The Arts Designing with mixed media; drawing blueprints for a castle; painting modern art with shapes and textures; creating a new alphabet.

Sportball camps are built for fun! Designed for ages 3 to 9 years, our highly trained and passionate coaches help children develop the ability and confidence they need to get in the game! Coaches break down skills into kid-sized bites of fun that promote the fundamentals and encourage teamwork. Kids play a variety of sports at our popular multi-sport camps, rotating through basketball, soccer, baseball, football, volleyball, hockey, golf, and tennis. Sport-specific camps focus on individual sports, for those that have a favorite or know their game (and will play nothing else!)

Preschool ages take part in fun games and stories to explore the world of sports in a safe and comfortable environment. Age-appropriate equipment and creative instruction allow youngsters to have a blast and progress at their own pace. Older groups practice fundamental skills and play games designed to promote the particular developmental milestones of the school-age child. Coaches then work towards real game scenarios and scrimmages to put their newfound skills into action!

Sportball is also proud to have recently partnered with the University of Toronto in a study that found our skills-oriented, structured sports instruction can have a significant impact on preschoolers’ and kindergartners’ early physical development.

“Gross motor skills are important for everyday life, and influence not only how we interact with our environment, but also influence our health and well-being,” says Professor Andrea Duncan, at U of T’s Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy. Over the past year, Master of Science Occupational Therapy student researchers completed an observational assessment of children with comparable skills ages 3 to 6 and evaluated their levels of skill development before and after participating in an initial 8-week Sportball program.

All study participants were assessed on a 30-item scale requiring them to perform a variety of movement skills, including kicking and throwing a ball, walking backwards on a line, running, etc. Results showed that participants in the Sportball group demonstrated significant increases in ball skills as well as balance, coordination, and jumping.

Whatever the age or skill level, our mission remains the same… to create lasting memories and a love of sports that lasts a lifetime!

Visit www.sportball.us today to register at a location near you, or sign up for a free trial. We also do weekly classes, birthday parties and special events for ages 18 months to 12 years!

How many of us wonder if we could have been really great at some type of craft or skill, given an earlier start? Sherwood Forest Summer Camp attendees have the opportunity to try their hands at many crafts and skills that are no longer widely taught. Maybe your child is a natural with a bow? Or perhaps they are made for the stage, but never had a chance to be in a play before. It is amazing what a child can learn without the distractions of the modern.

Campers may choose to sleep in Sherwood Castle (yes, it’s a real castle) or in one of the Merry Folks’ Pavilions (with nightly bedtime stories). Sherwood Castle is an indoor, climate controlled environment with bunk beds. A temporary wall separates the 40 lords from the 30 ladies in residence. All Dragons (age 7-9) will be assigned to quarters in the Castle (with strict rules against fire breathing). The Pavilions are large, military-grade tents which stand over a raised wooden platform. They are insulated and climate controlled. Our more adventurous campers will enjoy this option because, although it is a bit more luxurious than traditional camping, campers still get to be closer to nature and enjoy the night air and the sound of crickets and denizens of the forest.

We offer a healthy, kid friendly menu with options to satisfy even the pickiest eaters. Our catering is performed by BrouHaHa, who has a solid history serving patrons at Sherwood Forest Faire since its inception.

All of our hands-on activities take place in our 23-acre medieval village. Campers will be transported back in time to a world of knights, ladies, and a simpler way of life. Campers will learn skills essential to daily living in the medieval era. No modern entertainment devices will be available. Our new curriculum provides greater choice and variety for our campers. Now instead of being assigned to a set of courses each camper above age 9 will be able to choose all of their individual classes. Another change will be the number of classes. Previously campers were unable to complete more complex projects in classes. Campers will now have 5 hours of class time and will be able to create as much as they desire. In addition we add new classes every year to give even greater choice selections!

Family Camp

New this year! Sherwood Forest Family Summer Camp is a chance for your family to spend some quality time together, in the midst of the beautiful Nottingham Village. You’ll be exposed to numerous skills and trades of the Medieval era, which means you will be making things with your hands – and that doesn’t mean drawing a picture on your screen with your finger!

Disclaimer: Sherwood Forest is fraught with confrontations between Robin and his Merry Folk, the Sheriff and his deputies, The Black Hand and the Fae Folk. Don’t be surprised if families at some point are asked to defend the castle against an invasion… or perhaps they will be asked to attack, if an enemy force has taken sanctuary within. Anything could happen!

Grown Up Camp

Sherwood Forest Grown-Up Summer Camp offers adults age 21+ the opportunity to learn skills and crafts of the renaissance era. Each camper will receive three hours of instruction in five different courses during their camp adventure. The event spans three days, and in addition to the course instruction campers will enjoy three high-quality meals, some time for relaxation or cooling off in the pool each day, and of course revelry at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem at night!

The School of Rock is the nation’s premier performance-based rock school. We teach guitar, bass, drums, keys and vocals via our unique combination of private instruction and group rehearsals, which gets students playing on stage as quickly as possible. Our instructors are all professional Austin musicians, each with years of experience in the music business.

In addition to our year-round performance programs, the School of Rock offers one week full day and half day summer camp sessions.

Our comprehensive camp experience is designed to hone music performance and ensemble skills in a creative and fun environment. We use Rock ‘n Roll to teach guitar, bass, drums, vocals and keys, culminating in an awesome live show on the final day! Our camps cater to rockers aged 6 – 18 of all skill levels – from beginners who are brand new to their instrument through to more advanced rockers with some experience under their studded belts.

Students work in a hands-on atmosphere that includes:

Learning the nuts and bolts of live performance

Studio/band rehearsal time

Individual and group instruction from our highly skilled staff

Music theory and Rock & Roll music appreciation

Interacting with other young musicians

A LIVE rock show performance

Last year’s camps sold out, so take advantage of this awesome deal for Statesman readers only! If you enroll before April 1, you will receive 20% off tuition for any of our summer camps. Just use the coupon code SORSTATESMAN2018 at check out.

Here’s what we have in store for Summer 2018:

Rookies camp – introduces the music fundamentals in a fun way to beginners aged 6-8.

Rock 101 camps – the perfect opportunity for budding young rockers aged 8 to 13 to learn the skills necessary to rock out in a band, with a righteous live rock show at the end of the week.

Songwriting camp – learn about the craft of writing your own original music and end the week with a recording of your own creation.

Performance camps: “Swinging 60s”, “Dazed and Confused: The Sounds of the 70’s”, “80’s Mixtape”, “The 90’s: Alternative Nation” and “Modern Rock”- campers aged 10 – 18 with at least 12 months of previous musical experience rehearse as a band during the week in preparation for an awesome live rock show on the final day of camp!

Founded in 1998, the School of Rock is the inspiration for the blockbuster Jack Black film “The School of Rock” (2003).

School of Rock Austin was the 8th school founded in the School of Rock family back in 2005. Since then, we’ve produced more than 100 shows, and just recently celebrated our 11th anniversary in Austin. In the process, we have empowered thousands of young musicians by teaching kids how to rock on stage and in life!

The Rock-About Climbing Adventure Camp is an adventurous kid’s dream. Each day, the camp visits natural climbing walls, including Enchanted Rock, Reimer’s Ranch and the Austin Barton Creek Greenbelt, with a climb each morning, followed by lunch and a swim in a natural creek or pool. Rock-About believes climbing young can help groom kids into great adults, and our Austin summer camps are a great way to get your kids outside in a safe way. Rock climbing builds positive interactions with others as well as teaches to work together as a team. Only kids 9 and up are allowed for this camp. In addition to several summer camps, we offer a Christmas break camp as well.

At Rock-About, safety is always at the forefront, and climbers learn how to communicate with one another and check the ropes before they start to climb. Rock-About’s climbing camps include 5 great days of climbing at area locations—two days at the Austin Greenbelt, two days at Reimer’s Ranch and one day at the great Enchanted Rock. The Enchanted Rock trip also includes going through the really neat cave, along with climbing. Everyone’s born a climber, so why wait? See below for camp schedule.

“This was the most organized, well-put-together, creative, structured, and fun camp any of my kids have ever attended. The communication was above and beyond amazing and my daughter can’t wait to come back next year!” – Parent of Paramount Camper

The Paramount Academy of the Arts will have 10 exciting weeks of summer camps for students entering 1st grade all the way through high school. This summer, the sessions are in convenient sites around Austin. All final performances will be at the historic Paramount Theatre. No matter your interest, we have a camp for you!

Camp Paramount is a fun and fast-paced 2-week musical theatre camp where campers perform Broadway style musical numbers and iconic pop hits on the historic Paramount Stage! There are 5 sessions offered at locations around Austin with all final shows being performed on the Paramount stage. All sessions are different and unique -join us for multiple sessions!

Camp Story Wranglers is inspired by our award winning, hugely popular in-school Paramount Story Wranglers program. Campers will explore story-writing, songwriting, costume and prop design, as well as acting, to create a new, thrilling, hilarious, weird, poignant, SNL-style, you-name-it production. There is one session offered at centrally located Maplewood Elementary School.

At Paramount Academy for the Arts Summer Camp your child will have the chance to perform on the historic stage of the Paramount Theatre. They will hone their craft as a singer, dancer, actor and triplet threat performer. They will also channel their creativity and see their own original stories come to life. Paramount Academy for the Arts Summer Camp offers experiences you won’t find anywhere else! We offer an experience that will create lifetime memories.

Campers ages 5 to 15 experience outdoor adventures at scenic McKinney Roughs Nature Park. Thirteen miles east of Austin, nestled along the Colorado River and the Lost Pines, McKinney Roughs Nature Park has 1,100 acres of pine forests, box canyons and post oak meadows to explore.

McKinney Roughs Nature Park summer camps are based on a child’s age at the time camp starts. Each week’s camp activities revolve around a different outdoor theme and are led by experienced camp counselors. Activities such as zip lining, mountain biking, river rafting, fishing and more are available to campers, as well as uncovering the native plant and animal species in the area.

“This will be the 20th year we’ve provided summer camp fun for campers at McKinney Roughs Nature Park,” said LCRA Parks Program Coordinator Erin Holley. “Our day camp is a great option for parents who want their children to have fun and educational outdoor experiences but still have them close to home.”

Outdoor Camp — $225 per week

Tonkawa campers (Ages 5-6) will visit Dino Adventure Park, climb the rock wall and participate in a camp-wide field day. In addition, there will be guided hikes, field studies, games and activities tied to various outdoor themes.

Comanche (Ages 7-8) and Caddo (Ages 9-12) campers will visit Texas Memorial Museum, experience select high elements on the challenge course and raft the Colorado River or Lake Bastrop. This year, Caddo campers will have the opportunity to participate in two new camps: Fishing 101 and Riding the Roughs: Mountain Biking Basics ($550). In addition, there will be guided hikes, field studies, games and activities tied to various outdoor themes.

Teen Adventure Camp — $225 per week

Teen campers (Ages 13-15) will swim at Bastrop State Park, experience the thrill of high elements and zip line on the challenge course, take a river trip and work with the group to plan and execute an outdoor adventure.

Camp information

McKinney Roughs Nature Park provides up to eight weeks of day camp – from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday – beginning June 11. A daily shuttle service from two convenient Austin locations (3700 Lake Austin Blvd. and 3505 Montopolis Drive) is available for an additional fee.

For more information and to register, visit lcra.org/camps or call 512–303–5073.

kidsActing, Austin’s favorite and longest-operating year-round school for young performers, has offered engaging summer camps for children ages 4-18 since 1980. This year we’re going all out as we host award-winning single and multiple week camps — all of which culminate in performances for friends and family. Most importantly, kidsActing ensures a summer filled with friends and fun.

WHY ENROLL IN A CAMP AT KIDSACTING?

For starters, summer camps at kidsActing revolve around producing a show for family and friends. They’re designed to be FUN while also teaching kids how to audition, memorize lines, block scenes, sing and learn music (if it’s a music camp), dance or perform stage combat, and create and become characters who captivate audiences.

kidsActing camps are taught in easily digested blocks: new skills, review, fun. These mini-intensives are designed to create a trusting and connected team, encouraging kids to safely stretch outside their comfort zone, and experience creativity in a tactile way.

OUR MULTI-WEEK CAMPS

kidsActing’s multi-week camps are 3 or 4 weeks, for ages 8-18. This year’s multi-week camps include the 3-week, Full-Scale Play Production Treasure Island in June, and the 4-week, Full-Scale Musical Production School of Rockin July. There is also a Student Tech Theatre program for ages 13 and up.

Campers rehearse as well as perform at Center Stage Theatre, our full-sized venue. They learn to trust, listen, and communicate to build relationships on stage with their characters. Campers in a full-scale production experience a professionally produced show from first auditions to final bows.

Professional directors, choreographers, and vocal teachers run Treasure Island and School of Rock camps. Full-Scale plays and musicals also have professionally designed costumes, make-up/hair, sets, props, lights, sound, and live accompaniment (for musicals).

ONE-WEEK CAMPS

Our one-week camps are five full days of fun for various age groups from 5-16. This year, we’re offering several popular camps, including:

Campers are invited to join an EPIC journey with no singing required! Campers interested in acting and stage combat become a character in an amazing adventure, and treat friends and family to a performance complete with costumes, lights, and props. There are great roles for everyone, and each camp emphasizes a specific theme. Choose from: Alice in Wonderland, Lightning Thief, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Glee! Show Choir (Various age groups 7-14)

In our Glee! Show Choir, our professional choreographer and vocal coach provide a great week of singing and dancing as a group. Kids get voice training from a professional, and learn to harmonize and dance like pros. Our summer theme is The Greatest Show! Broadway Hits, including selections from Hamilton and Matilda. At the end of the week, kids perform a fabulous show for family and friends.

Creative Kids (Half-Day for Ages 4-8)

These half-day Triple Threat camps are playful fun for our younger theatre kids. Each camp has a specific musical theme where the young ones work together to prepare a mini-musical revue, complete with costumes, lights, props, and live music. There are great roles for everyone, and each camp emphasizes a specific musical theme. Choose from Aloha Moana, Peter Pan, and Sing.

ACT NOW!

Award-Winning kidsActing summer camps are a place where children of all ages will not only get the chance to learn valuable skills and have fun, but also to let their star shine all summer long. kidsActing camps are hosted in over 15 locations in and around Austin. It’s easy to find a summer camp in your neighborhood. Visit www.kidsActingStudio.com for more details, or call 512-836-5437.

Idea Lab Kids provides a tremendous balance of FUN and EDUCATION through uniquely developed and engaging STEM Curriculum.

The culture Idea Lab Kids has created over the years has led to a tremendous program, showing off some of the most unique camps in town. Each year, we strive to develop a new and unique set of programs that include the most up to date Technology and Tools for learning in a STEM environment.

By doing this, Idea Lab can provide your family a terrific opportunity for summer learning. Don’t miss out on your child being an Idea Lab kid!

Does your kid spend all day dreaming up the next big video game, do they want to bring the creatures in their sketchbook to life, or love the feeling of cracking codes and saving the world? Then Game Worlds summer camp is the place for you!

At Game Worlds, kids learn the skills needed to make their very own video games. Real-world game developers guide kids through a crash course into how games are made, and help students bring their vision to life through practical skills such as programming, design, testing, business, writing, audio engineering, and art. Students come away with a game they’ve created while learning game development.

The curriculum is developed by game developers, which means that students will always get relevant, practical, and up-to- date knowledge. On Friday, the students present their work to a panel of Game Industry professionals for prizes and feedback, and and get to celebrate with a Friday Night Pizza Party that goes until 9pm!

“The Game Worlds camp was amazing. Not only for educational purposes, but for my son to feel a part of a team.” -Erin, Parent.

“I just wanted to thank you guys for the great experience I had at camp, it was amazing! Game Worlds summer camp has really sparked my interest and talent for art to a whole other level. In the future i want to go to art school, I feel that this experience has given me another reason to become a artist.” -Natalia, Student

“The Game Worlds camp was an excellent experience for my son. I have not seen anything motivate him to do computer programming, not books, not computer game tours, nothing at all; until he went to the Game Worlds camp. His excitement over what he created has fueled his learning. This camp has met and surpassed my expectations on how it has changed my son’s perspective on game programming! He said “he is sad the camp ended for him, wishes he can go back again and do some more fun stuff”, that is evidence of this camp’s value.”- Jeni, Parent

Extend-A-Care for Kids Summer Day Camp is the place to keep your children physically active and engaged in learning activities while making new friends and enjoying new experiences. An enriching, fun-filled childcare program licensed by the State of Texas, Extend-A-Care offers camp sites at local elementary schools— including Andrews, Cunningham, Dawson, Elm Grove, Kyle, Palm and Pleasant Hill. The camp runs from 7:15 a.m. (7 a.m. for Hays) to 6:30 p.m. each day. Mid-morning snack and afternoon snack are provided, and fee assistance is available for qualifying families. Infant & preschool program services are available during summer as well.

This summer, during Extend-A-Care’s “Around the World in 50 Days” Summer Camp, our centers will embark on a multicultural fantasy voyage around the world, learning the customs, crafts, and cuisine of destinations as diverse as Africa and Alaska, from the rainforest to the Sahara! Sessions include Island Getaway!, From Russia with Love, Rescue the Rainforest!, Make Room for China!, Arabian Days and Nights, Vive la France!, African Adventures, I’ll See You, in C-U-B-A!, North to Alaska! and Home Away from Home.

Mornings will begin with mindfulness yoga exercises guided by the book Yoga for Children by Lisa Flynn. Campers will also move beyond technology consumption, and into creation with Makerspace tools and kits, as well as MaKey MaKey challenges— including a banana piano and musical marshmallows. Other fun resources for this summer include Little Kids First Big Book of the World from Nat Geo Kids, Feel the Beat (with CD) by Marilyn Singer, and Travel Book, The Lonely Planet Kids: Mind-Blowing Stuff on Every Country in the World.

Children will also participate in afternoon swim trips at local pools weekly, weather permitting. Parents complete swim surveys to inform staff of their children’s swimming abilities. Extend-A-Care also provides water safety curriculum to the children prior to their ﬁrst trip. Children must accompany their groups on ﬁeld trips and swimming trips. All children are encouraged to swim; however, they do not have to swim. To ensure, at the most, a 1:10 adult to child ratio at the pool, children not participating will be required to sit along the edge of the pool near a group leader for proper supervision.

Children will participate in weekly ﬁeld trips as well. Parents will be notiﬁed about the time and location at least 48 hours prior to the ﬁeld trips and swimming trips. Extend-A-Care does provide afternoon rest breaks for younger children to nap; and older children to rest or have quiet time.

With dozens of amazing camp experiences inspired by cultures across the globe, Extend-A-Care is a one-of-a-kind camp with something for every kid. For more information, and to register your kids for Extend-A-Care’s “Around the World in 50 Days” Summer Camp, please visit www.eackids.org.

The natural setting at The Contemporary Austin – Laguna Gloria has been fostering creativity and enhancing visual awareness for visitors for more than 50 years, and this summer is no exception with a wide variety of programs for all ages!

Highly qualified art teachers guide students in small classes (12 to 13 kids) as they learn to observe the beauty that surrounds them and appreciate it through the creation of art. We’re looking forward to artistically inspiring the more than 2,500 kids who are expected to enroll this summer in classes on the gorgeous 12-acre historic site at The Contemporary Austin – Art School at Laguna Gloria.

Classes fill quickly, so don’t wait to sign up! Register online at www.thecontemporaryaustin.org, or by calling 512-323- 6380. We look forward to seeing you this summer!

The Coolest camps in town are at Chaparral Ice Center. Catch the Olympics Bug and learn how to ice skate!

Spring break camp is your first shot at attending our Camp De Champs camp. Your child will spend their day learning how to ice skate, playing games with friends, learning off-ice and training techniques doing arts and crafts and much more. March 12th to 16th. Enroll now, space is limited.

During the summer session, we offer two different camps to suit any child’s needs.

Camp De Champs offers 11 weeks of figure skating and hockey skating instruction. Kids receive two lessons daily as well as public skating time, off-ice training, goal setting, arts and crafts, and a new, optional performance

recital on the Thursday evening of each week.

Camp Avalanche is our general day camp that is offered only during the summer. We offer 11 weeks of fun. Your child can spend their summer going on the most outrageous adventures across Austin. Our campers fill their days swimming, going to the park, going on field trips, doing arts and crafts and of course ice skating. Field trip options include Typhoon Texas, Dart ‘Em Up, Zipline Adventures at Candlelight Ranch, Quest Wakeboard and water Adventure Park and more. Our staff are amazing, and our campers return year after year as a testament to the quality programming we provide. Visit Our Website: www.chaparralice.com